It’s once again time for Game8 to distinguish the excellent and noteworthy games of 2024 as the year ends. Here are our top games for 2024!

Game8’s 2024 Game Of The Year Nominees And Winners

Best Action Game

Criteria	Nominees
Given to the game which provided players with the most exciting fights throughout a significant portion of its playtime.	⚫︎　 Black Myth: Wukong 　⚫︎　 DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO 　⚫︎　 Stellar Blade 　⚫︎　 Dragon’s Dogma 2 　⚫︎　 Nine Sols

Winner:	🏆 Black Myth: Wukong 🏆

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Black Myth: Wukong took Game8’s award for Best Action Game. The entire experience is a gritty, action-packed ride through difficult bosses, verdant landscapes, and fantastical settings. The combat feels snappy and responsive, to the point where you might get punished for not being deliberate enough with your inputs. If you’re a big fan of action games, you’re absolutely missing out if you don’t play this game.

Best Role-Playing Game

Criteria	Nominees
Whether as a lone vagabond or a brave party leader, this award is given to the game that provides the most immersive role-playing experience.	⚫︎　 Metaphor: ReFantazio 　⚫︎　 Dragons Dogma 2 　⚫︎　 Persona 3 Reload 　⚫︎　 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 　⚫︎　 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Winner:	🏆 Metaphor: ReFantazio 🏆

Described by Game8 as the pinnacle of turn-based combat, at least as far as 2024 goes, Metaphor: ReFantazio has redefined what it means to put yourself into the shoes of another character. It is immersive, heart-pounding, and tackles a lot of conflicts that fantasy and reality share. It’s no wonder that it would take the crown for Game8’s 2024 Best Role-Playing Game award.

Best Single Player Game

Criteria	Nominees
This award is given to the game with the most in-depth single-player experience across multiple aspects of gameplay.	⚫︎　 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl 　⚫︎　 Black Myth: Wukong 　⚫︎　 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 　⚫︎　 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle 　⚫︎　 Astro Bot

Winner:	🏆 Astro Bot 🏆

Despite being limited to one console, almost every single person who has played Astro Bot will tell you that it was one of the most fun games they’ve ever played in a long time, repeatedly, until you nod your head and assent. And, they have a point. Astro Bot is designed purely and unapologetically to let as many of its players have as much fun as they can.

Best Co-Op Game

Criteria	Nominees
Dedicated to the game with the best gameplay involving two or more players working together towards a consolidated goal.	⚫︎　 Warhammer 40k Space Marine 2 　⚫︎　 Palworld 　⚫︎　 Content Warning 　⚫︎　 Fast Food Simulator 　⚫︎　 Sons of the Forest

Winner:	🏆 Content Warning 🏆

Imitating the incredible burst of popularity Lethal Company had the year prior, with thousands of players begging their friends to play with them over Steam chat or Discord, Content Warning took the gaming world by storm when it was released due to its gameplay design that focused entirely on making the co-op experience as fun, intimate, and hilarious as humanly possible.

Best Multiplayer Game

Criteria	Nominees
This award is for the game with the best multiplayer gameplay, regardless of the number of players or teams that can be present in a session.	⚫︎　 Helldivers 2 　⚫︎　 Strinova 　⚫︎　 Marvel Rivals 　⚫︎　 Once Human 　⚫︎　 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Winner:	🏆 Helldivers 2 🏆

Widely considered as one of the best multiplayer games released over the past few years, Helldivers 2 not only delivered an excellent co-op experience, but also a multiplayer system that really made you feel like you’re a part of the world. It’s fun, action-packed, traditional combat full of threats from both enemy and ally alike makes every session a heart-pounding fight for your life—and democracy.

Best Remake/Remaster

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game that best revives an old gaming classic while keeping its true spirit alive.	⚫︎　 Until Dawn 　⚫︎　 Persona 3 Reload 　⚫︎　 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 　⚫︎　 Solium Infernum 　⚫︎　 Silent Hill 2

Winner:	🏆 Persona 3 Reload 🏆

Persona fans have clamored for a Persona 3 remake for years, and it’s only fitting that Persona 3 Reload wins Best Remake/Remaster. Reload captures the soul of its 2006 predecessor while bringing with it the polish of modern RPG design seen in Persona 5. The revamped visuals painted Tartarus in even more haunting hues, and the rerecorded voice lines brought new takes to already existing characters. Yet, it’s the subtle changes—the expanded social scenes and new gameplay mechanics—that elevate the game from a nostalgia trip to a game that feels fated by the Velvet Room itself.

Best Fighting Game

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the best fighting game with the most polished and enjoyable combat.	⚫︎　 MARVEL vs CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics 　⚫︎　 Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes 　⚫︎　 DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO 　⚫︎　 Tekken 8 　⚫︎　 Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age

Winner:	🏆 Tekken 8 🏆

Tekken 8 had huge shoes to fill after the success of Tekken 7 in 2017. However, from the moment the King of Iron Fist Tournament roared to life, it became clear that players were in for a truly special experience. Its stunning visuals turned every blow into a spectacle, and the revamped character roster catered to both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike. Each punch carried the weight of 30 years of history while paving the way for the genre’s future. Tekken 8 delivered an electrifying experience that left us eager for the next battle.

Best Roguelike/Roguelite Game

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game with gameplay loops so good that players don’t mind restarting from the top each time.	⚫︎　 Chrono Ark 　⚫︎　 Buckshot Roulette 　⚫︎　 TMNT: Splintered Fate 　⚫︎　 Rabbit and Steel 　⚫︎　 Shogun Showdown

Winner:	🏆 Rabbit and Steel 🏆

Combining roguelike mechanics, RPG elements, and bullet hell gameplay, Rabbit and Steel is a stereotypical example of a game taking the best qualities from different genres and implementing them in a way that just works. It is an exceptional co-op shooter that allows you to share the pain and elation of playing bullet hell games with others.

Best Soulslike Game

Criteria	Nominees
Presented to the game that best features FromSoftware’s genre-defining mechanics of tight controls and difficult bosses while conquering the challenges that come with it.	⚫︎　 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 　⚫︎　 Black Myth: Wukong 　⚫︎　 Nine Sols 　⚫︎　 Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn 　⚫︎　 NanoApostle

Winner:	🏆 Black Myth: Wukong 🏆

Black Myth: Wukong takes another win, this time in the much more competitive field of soulslikes where quality of gameplay trumps all. It even bested the DLC of what is perhaps the greatest Soulsborne game in history.

Best Shooter Game

Criteria	Nominees
Given to the title with the most polished and satisfying gameplay. With firearms, of course.	⚫︎　 Marvel Rivals 　⚫︎　 Strinova 　⚫︎　 Anger Foot 　⚫︎　 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 　⚫︎　 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Winner:	🏆 Anger Foot 🏆

In a year full of amazing shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Marvel Rivals, yes, we’re giving the award for Best Shooter Game to the indie title Anger Foot. Why? Because sometimes innovation wears sneakers and unceremoniously kicks doors down. Anger Foot understands the primal joy of simply entering an enemy-filled room with guns blazing. It’s fast, unapologetically wild, and somehow makes you feel like a martial artist, a DJ with its funky beats, and a wrecking ball all at once. Anger Foot reinvents the genre and kicks conformity to the curb—and it stole our hearts in the process.

Best Horror Game

Criteria	Nominees
Encompassing every level of dreadful terror, this award is given to the game with the best spooks, regardless of its delivery method.	⚫︎　 Mouthwashing 　⚫︎　 MiSide 　⚫︎　 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl 　⚫︎　 The Casting of Frank Stone 　⚫︎　 Still Wakes the Deep

Winner:	🏆 The Casting of Frank Stone 🏆

The Casting of Frank Stone is a cinematic experience that’s so effective that you might even forget that you’re playing a game. Its horror is so gripping that the imaginary popcorn on your lap becomes incredibly appealing to reach instead of your mouse. And failing that, the scares will get to you quick and hard.

Best Puzzle Game

Criteria	Nominees
For the game with the most challenging and thought-provoking puzzles built into its gameplay and storyline.	⚫︎　 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes 　⚫︎　 Leximan 　⚫︎　 INDIKA 　⚫︎　 The Star Named EOS 　⚫︎　 Phoenix Springs

Winner:	🏆 Leximan 🏆

Leximan proves that sometimes the simplest ideas unlock the most profound experiences. Our words have power, and Leximan takes this concept quite literally. You never quite know what your typed commands will yield. Some solutions are straightforward, like casting fire to light up a room, while others are wildly unpredictable, often leading to hilarious outcomes. As a puzzle game, Leximan lets your imagination run wild, and it pushes the boundaries of what our words can create.

Best Performance

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the talent with the most moving performance in their respective games.	⚫︎　 Briana White (Aerith Gainsborough) 　⚫︎　 Hannah Telle (Max Caulfield) 　⚫︎　 Humberly Gonzalez (Kay Vess) 　⚫︎　 Luke Roberts (James Sunderland) 　⚫︎　 Melina Juergens (Senua)

Winner:	🏆 Melina Juergens (Senua) 🏆

2024 witnessed a stellar year for performances in games, each a masterclass in their own right. However, Melina Juergens’ portrayal of Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II reigns supreme. Juergens inhabits Senua with a raw, visceral intensity that captures the character’s debilitating psychosis with honesty. With every tear, every scream, and every quiet moment of vulnerability, she brings an authenticity to the role that feels almost too real. It’s a performance that stays with you long after the credits roll, and for that, it truly deserves to be recognized as the Best Performance of 2024.

Best Story

Criteria	Nominees
Recognizing the game with the best story, inclusive of its delivery, narrative style, depth, etc.	⚫︎　 Closer the Distance 　⚫︎　 The Hungry Lamb 　⚫︎　 Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch 　⚫︎　 Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery 　⚫︎　 INDIKA

Winner:	🏆 The Hungry Lamb 🏆

The Hungry Lamb is a relatively short visual novel compared to its older peers. However, what it lacks in length is definitely made up for by its riveting tale around poverty, abuse, crime, redemption, and family. It’s arguably the best visual novel of the year, really.

Best Gameplay

Criteria	Nominees
For the title with the best gameplay regardless of genre and platform.	⚫︎　 Satisfactory 　⚫︎　 Frostpunk 2 　⚫︎　 Dragon’s Dogma 2 　⚫︎　 Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 　⚫︎　 Wizardry Variants Daphne

Winner:	🏆 Frostpunk 2 🏆

While 2024 has been full of amazing titles with equally exceptional gameplay, Frostpunk 2 manages a narrow win due to its incredibly gritty yet engaging mechanics and features. It’s also an almost complete overhaul of the original’s formula—a bold decision that ultimately paid off with an overall gameplay experience that arguably trumps its competition.

Best Visuals

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game with the most appealing visuals, regardless of its theme or art direction.	⚫︎　 Nine Sols 　⚫︎　 Animal Well 　⚫︎　 Visions of Mana 　⚫︎　 Ultros 　⚫︎　 Hookah Haze

Winner:	🏆 Hookah Haze 🏆

Realistic textures and breathtaking landscapes aren’t the only things that can deliver an immersive and captivating visual experience. Sometimes, all you need to see is what’s nearest to you—a very intimate view that Hookah Haze and its vibrant yet grounded depiction of romance provide in spades.

Best Audio

Criteria	Nominees
For outstanding games with a remarkable auditory experience, encompassing music, voice acting, sound effects, and everything in between.	⚫︎　 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 　⚫︎　 Astro Bot 　⚫︎　 Farewell North 　⚫︎　 Beat Slayer 　⚫︎　 Persona 3 Reload

Winner:	🏆 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth🏆

From the moment you enter Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s world, its sound design immediately takes over the senses. Every note, sound effect, and even dialogue feels like an intentional stroke on the canvas of Midgar and beyond. Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki breathe new life into Nobuo Uematsu’s beloved themes while giving them an identity that is entirely Rebirth’s. The game’s sound design is equally impressive—marketplaces hum with activity, while natural areas are filled with the sounds of wind and wildlife. The result is a truly immersive soundscape that permeates into every corner of Rebirth’s world.

Best Value For Money

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game which provides its players the most bang for their buck.	⚫︎　 Holo X Break 　⚫︎　 Duck Detective: The Secret Salami 　⚫︎　 Animal Well 　⚫︎　 Crypt Custodian 　⚫︎　 Satisfactory

Winner:	🏆 Satisfactory 🏆

Even though it’s competing against a very fun free-to-play title and several cheaper and high-quality indie games, Satisfactory still comfortably comes out on top due to its incredibly addicting gameplay loop that only becomes more engaging the more you continue to play it. If you’re looking for an immensely satisfying timesink, then look no further than Satisfactory.

Best Hit Out of Nowhere

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game with the most impactful debut despite its lack of marketing	⚫︎　 Silent Hill 2 　⚫︎　 Astro Bot 　⚫︎　 Mouthwashing 　⚫︎　 Content Warning 　⚫︎　 Palworld

Winner:	🏆 Content Warning 🏆

Only a few people really expected Content Warning to pop off as it did. Though the game released with a small amount of followers, its popularity exploded within just 24 hours of its launch, immediately earning it a staggering 6-digit player base. And it’s easy to see why: the game’s focus on an intimate, fun, and audiovisually rewarding experience is hard to beat.

Best Game We Hadn’t Reviewed

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the game Game8 wasn’t able to cover through our reviews that nonetheless made the biggest waves.	⚫︎　 Balatro 　⚫︎　 Drova - Forsaken Kin 　⚫︎　 Liar's Bar 　⚫︎　 Mechabellum 　⚫︎　 Caves of Qud

Winner:	🏆 Liar’s Bar 🏆

There are so many great games in 2024 that we at Game8 weren’t able to review, and it’s a shame that Liar’s Bar was one of them. This deceptively simple game proves that lying to your friends can actually be fun. Its cartoonish design hides the depth of strategy and psychological nuance required to "outsmart, outplay, outlast" your friends on the table, and the only thing more satisfying than a well-placed bluff is watching them squirm when they finally realize they’ve been had.

Best Disappointment

Criteria	Nominees
Games with the highest hype hurt harder when they fall. The great expectations for these titles not only went unmet, they actively disappointed.	⚫︎　 Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred 　⚫︎　 Unknown 9: Awakening 　⚫︎　 Touhou Genso Wanderer -FORESIGHT- 　⚫︎　 Outcast - A New Beginning 　⚫︎　 Funko Fusion

Winner:	🏆 Funko Fusion 🏆

Funko Fusion arrived with the promise of a fun mashup featuring beloved characters from across pop culture. Trailers teased exciting scenarios, like Omni-Man from Invincible trapped in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, and Marty McFly navigating the seas of Jaws. However, much like the Funko Pops themselves, the game feels soulless and mediocre, capitalizing on its recognizable IPs to justify a full $60 price tag. It’s a disappointing reminder that even the most appealing packaging can’t mask a lack of substance.

Best Indie Game

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the best game made by an independent studio.	⚫︎　 Closer the Distance 　⚫︎　 Nine Sols 　⚫︎　 Crypt Custodian 　⚫︎　 Duck Detective: The Secret Salami 　⚫︎　 Animal Well

Winner:	🏆 Nine Sols 🏆

Nine Sols punches straight to the heart while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Inspired by East Asian mythology, the game immerses you in a rich world of lore while pushing you to your limits. The difficulty challenges you at every turn, but the reward makes persevering worth it—a journey of self-discovery wrapped in the most beautifully brutal way possible. These aspects of Nine Sols secure its top spot among 2024’s best indie games.

Best Mobile Game

Criteria	Nominees
Awarded to the best game available primarily for mobile devices.	⚫︎　 Wuthering Waves 　⚫︎　 Pokemon TCG Pocket 　⚫︎　 Zenless Zone Zero 　⚫︎　 Infinity Nikki 　⚫︎　 Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium

Winner:	🏆 Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium 🏆

Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium not only delivered on its promise and years of hype with exceptional quality, but it also did so in a format often overlooked by the mobile gaming market: turn-based tactics. It’s a major step in a completely different direction from its prequel, despite directly continuing the gripping tale of the protagonist and the T-Dolls he leads through the conspiracies and hardships of a post-apocalyptic world.

Game8’s Game of the Year

Criteria	Nominees
Bestowed with utmost reverence to the game which Game8 has judged to be the best title in terms of story, gameplay, visuals, audio, and value for money.	⚫︎　 Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 　⚫︎　 Dragon's Dogma 2 　⚫︎　 Astro Bot 　⚫︎　 Metaphor: ReFantazio 　⚫︎　 Frostpunk 2

Winner:	🏆 Metaphor: ReFantazio 🏆

Metaphor: ReFantazio clinched Game8’s Game of the Year Award, and deservedly so! Everyone thought that Atlus’ RPG formula had already reached its peak with Persona 5 Royal back in 2019. However, they returned to not only redefine what turn-based RPGs can be, but also craft a profound reflection on the very nature of power, privilege, and the disillusionment that permeates modern politics.

The race for the crown mirrors our own world, where the playing field is tilted in favor of the elite, and true change feels elusive with racism and inequality rampant in society. Nevertheless, the game serves as a powerful reminder that the struggle for a better future is far from over, and that anyone can rise to challenge the status quo.